Controller for electric motors.



F. T. TAYLOR. CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS. APPLICATION FILED JULY10,1909.

991,181 Patented May 2,1911.

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F. T. TAYLOR.

CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

I APPLICATION FILED JULY 10,1909. 991,181, Patented May 2, 1911.

2 SHEE TSSHEET 2.

. r I (Kayo/"mew UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLOYD T. TAYLOR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG.CO., 01 MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN;

CONTROLLER r'on ELECTRIC MOTORS.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 191L Application filed July 10, 1909. Serial No.506,941.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FLOYD T. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Controllers for ElectricMotors, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescript on, reference being had to the accompanying draw-- ing, forminga part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in controllers for electric motors.

With certain classes of motor operated machinery it is necessary tooperate the same in stages, and, in some instances, to vary the range ofoperation thereofdurlng successlve stages. For instance, in charging ablast furnace, it is necessary to operate the hopper in stages and tovary the range of operation thereof during succcessive stages in orderto obtain an even distribution of the charges on the large bell of thefurnace. This may be accomplished in various ways. For instance, thehopper may be revolved a certain number of degrees after each charge isdumped therein until a predetermined number of charges have beendeposited at the same point on the large bell and then operated agreater number of degrees each time a charge is dumped therein until anequal number of charges have been deposited at a different point onthelarge bell, and so on. This method obviously necessitates the operationof the hopper for varying distances, and further necessitates successiveoperations of the hopper for the same distance.

Another method of distributing the charges consists in revolving thehopper so that the first charge will be deposited on the large bell at agiven point, the next charge deposited on the large bell at a pre-.determined distance from the previous charge, and so on. This operationmay be continued until a predetermined number of charges have beendeposited upon the large bell and then the same cycle of operationrepeated, until a plurality of charges have .been depositedon top of thefirst charges. Of course, where itis desired to insure the deposit ofthe charges as above set forth, or in a similar manner, it isimpractical to leave the operation of the hopper to the discretion of anattendan a It is, therefore, the object of my invention provide acontroller which to provide a simple and eflicient device fornecessitating the operation of a motor in stages and for varying therange of operation of the motor during successive stages as desired.

A further object of my invention is to constructed to meet differentconditions.

For the purpose of more clearly disclosing thenature of my invention, Ishall describe the embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which I have shown my invention as applied to the control ofa blast furnace hopper. It should be understood, however, that myinvention is not limited in its ticular class of motor operatedmachinery, but may be used in various different relations. It shouldalso be understood that the drawing merely illustrates one embodiment ofmy invention and that the same is capable of various modifications.

Figure 1 shows schematically a revolving hopper and other moving partsof a blast furnace. Fig. 2 illustrates one form of my controller as itmay be constructed in practice and also diagrammatically illustrates onearrangement of circuit connections therefor; and Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of the controller shown in Fig. 2.

The mechanism shown in Fig. 1 includes a revolving hopper 4, a skip car5, a small bell 6 and a large. bell 7, each of which is providedwith-suitable operating means.

My invention relates particularly to the control of the revolvin hopper,and, therefore, I shall not describe the operation of the other movingparts in detail as the operation thereof is well understood by thoseskilled in the art. However, briefly set forth, the sequence ofoperation of the parts is as follows. The skip car 5 is operated to dumpsuitable charges into the hopper 4 which is revolved to insure properdlstribution of the charges. At predetermined times, in each cycle of oeration the small bell is lowered to deposit the charges onto the largebell. When a predetermined number of charges have been deposited on thelarge bell, the same is lowered to distribute the charges in the,urnace. As illustrated, the hopper 4 is arranged to be revolved by amotor 8 which is connected thereto by suitable gearing. The motor 8 isalso geared, or otherwise operatively connected, to a may be readilyapplication to any parsuitable controller or limit switch 9, theconstruction of which I shall now describe, reference being had to Fig.2.

.The limit switch 9 is provided with a movable member 10 mounted on arevoluble shaft 11. Instead of the member 10 being operatively connectedto the motor, the same might be operated directly from the revolvinghopper if preferred. The member 10 is preferably formed in two parts,the upper part 12 thereof being insulated from the lower portion and theshaft 11. The portion 12 carries, at its outer end, two contact brushes13 and 14. The brush 14 is adapted to engage and sweep over a contactring 15 when the arm 10 is rotated, while the brush 13 is adapted toswee over a series of contact segments '16 to 2 inclusive. The portion12 of the arm 10 forms an electrical connection between the brushes 13and 14, and, hence, said brushes are adapted to electrically connect anyone of the contact segments to the contact rin 15.

For 518 purpose hereinafter set forth, I prefer to divide the contactsegments 16 to 27 into two sets, the contacts of each set beingelectrically connected andat the sametime insulated from all of thecontacts of the other set. In practice, I prefer to a1.- range the setsof contacts so that each contact of one set will be disposed between twocontacts of the other set. In other words, alternate contact segmentsare electrically connected. In the diagrammatic view, Fig. 2, it will beseen that all of the contact segments bearing even reference numeralsare electrically connected to a conductor 28, while those bearing oddreference numerals are connected to conductor 29.

The motor 8 for operating the hopper is diagrammatically illustrated asbeing provided with an armature A and a series field winding F. Ofcourse, other forms of motors might be used if preferred. The continuityof the motor circuit is controlled by means of a switch 30 which formsthe movable element of an electromagnetically operated starting rheostat31. Of course, if preferred, a be provided. The member 30 is adapted tosweep over a series of contacts 32, the first of which is dead, whilethe remainder are connected to a suitable armature resistance 33. Hence,when the arm 30 is in its initial position, it will engage the deadcontact 32, thereby interrupting the motor circuit. The member 30 isadapted to be moved over the contacts 32 to close the motor circuit andthen remove the resistance 33. from circuit by a suitableelectromagnetic winding 34. As will be hereinafter set forth, thecircuit of the operating winding 34 is controlled by the limit switchpreviously described in conjunction with a suitable master switch 36,

preferably rigidly 7 separate main switch might which may, in practice,be of any preferred type. As illustrated, the switch 36 merely comprisesa pivoted switch arm adapted to be moved from a central position intoengagement either with contact 37 or contact 38.

I shall now describe the operation of the controller. Current issupplied to the motor and to the operating win ing of the main switchfrom main lines 39 and 40 through a double pole switch 41, Assuming themovable element of the rheostat 31 to be in the position illustrated,the motor circuit will be opened. To close the motor circuit with themember 10 of the limit switch in the position illustrated, it isnecessary to throw the switch 36 into engagement with the contact 38.This closes a circuit from main line 39 by conductors 42 and 43, throughthe operating winding 34 of the rheostat, by conductor 44 to ring 15 ofthe limit switch, thence by brushes 14 and 13 to contact segment 16, toconductor 28, by conductor 45, through the switch 36, and by conductor46 to the negative side of the main line. The winding 34 being thusenergized, operates the element 30 to first close the motor circuit withall of the resistance 33 included therein, and then to gradually removesaid resistance from circuit. This starts the motor and then graduallybrings the same up to speed.

Operation of the motor causes the hopper of the blast furnace torevolve, and at the same time causes the arm 10 to revolve about itspivot. When the hopper has revolved a certain number of degrees, thebrush 13 of the limit switch will disengage the contact segment 16,thereby interrupting the circuit of the winding 34 of the rheostat 31.The member 30 of the rheostat then descends to reinsert theresistance 33in circuit and to finally open the motor circuit. This, of course, stopsthe motor and brings the hopor to rest, and, during this time, the armof the limit switch moves ontothe next contact. To again start themotor, it is necessary to move the switch 36 into engagement wlth thecontact 37 This completes the circuit of the winding 34 from the mainline 39 to ring 15 of the limit switch as already traced, thence bybrushes 14 and 13 to contact segment 17, by conductors 29 and 47 throughthe switch 36 and back to the negative line as already traced. The motoris then again started and brought up to speed in the manner previouslyset forth.

The-hopper is thus again set in operation and will continue to o crateuntil the brush 13 of the limit switch itaves contact segment 17,whereupon the circuit of the starting rheostat will again beinterrupted, thereby stopping the motor and hopper. in the mannerpreviously set forth. To again startthe motor, the switch 36 must bethrown into engagement with contact 38. During the remainder of therevolution of the member 10 of the limit switch, the same operates inthe manner previously set forth to periodically stop the motor, therebynecessitating operation of the master switch before the motor can beagain started. 1 In the particular controller illustrated, it

\v1ll be noted that the contacts lG U027 are of three different lengths.Contacts 16 to 19- arrangement, during one complete cycle of and thenstarted and stopped four the following operation of the controller, thehopper would be started and stopped four'times in succession afterrotating 90 degrees each, then started and stopped four times insuccession after rotating 180 degrees each time, times in degrees eachprovides for distribution of charges on the large bell. The first chargeis deposited onto the large bell without operating the hopper. Thisoperation is repeated until'four charges have been deposited on thelarge bell one on top of the other. Thus four charges are deposited atzero point on the large bell. Before depositing the next charge onthelarge bell, the hopper is revolved 90degrees, thus depositing thesame onthe large bell at 90 degrees from the first charges. Thisoperasuccession after rotating 270 tlme. Such an arrangement tion isrepeated until three'more charges have been deposited at the same point.In depositing the next four charges, the hopper is revolved 180 degreeseach time, thereby depositing said charges at 180 degrees from the firstfour charges and 90 degrees from the second four charges. The last fourcharges are each carried 270 degrees by the hopper before beingdeposited on the large bell, and, consequently, are deposited at a point90 degrees from the next preceding.

charges. In brief, the foregoing operation results in depositingeachgroup of charges at a point 90 degrees from the next preceding group,which obviously results in an even distribution of the charges on thelarge bell. The large bell may then be dumped or the previous cycleofoperation repeated -un til any desired number of charges have 'beendeposited thereon and then the same dumped.

Vhile I have shown the controller as constructed to cause thedistribution of the charges in the manner above set forth, it should beunderstood that all of the contacts of the limit switch might be variedin length to cause successive charges to be deposited at differentpoints'on the large bell. Such an arrangement would merely necessitaterepetition of the cycle of operation to obtain practically the sameresult as that obtained by ,the arrangement lllustrated, o

I claim.--

1. In a controller for electric motors, in combinatiom'a plurality ofcontacts and an automaticallyoperated member adapted to successivelytacts and to ing each of said contacts, thereby necessitating operationof the motor in stages but permitting an indefinite number of operationsof the motor in the same direction.

2. In a controller for electric motors, in combination, a. plurality ofcontacts and an automatically operated member adapted to successivelyengage and disengage said con-.

tacts and to stop the motor upon disengaging each contact, therebynecessitating the operation of the motor in stages, said contacts beingof varying sizes to vary the range of operation of the motor duringsuccessive stages.

3. In a controller for electric motors, in combination, a plurality ofcontacts and an automatically operated member adapted to successivelyengage and disengage said contacts and to stop the motor upondisengaging each contact, thereby necessitating operation of the motorin stages, said contacts being arranged in groups, the contacts of eachgroup being of substantially the same length and differing in lengthfrom the contacts of another group.

4. In a controller for electric motors, in combination, a plurality ofcontacts, an automatically successively engage and disengage saidcontacts and to stop the motor upon disengaging each contact, therebynecessitating operation of the motor in stages, and means for startingthe motor when said member is in engagement with any of said contacts,said contacts being of varying sizes to vary the range of operation ofthe motor during successive stages.

5. In a controller for electric motors, in combination,electroresponsive means controlling the motor. circult and a switchcontrolling said. elect-roresponsive means, comprising a plurality ofcontacts, and an automatically movable member adapted to successivelyengage and disengage said contacts, said member being adapted to causethe deenergization of said upon leaving each of said contacts being ofvarying tain said means e lengths of time.

6. In a controller for electric motors, in combination,electroresponsive means for controlling the motor circuit, aswitch'comprising a plurality of contacts, and an antomatically movablemember adapted to successively engage and disengage said con controllingmeans cont-acts, and said ergized for different engageand disengage saidcon-" stop the motor upon d1sengag-.

operated member adapted to.

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lengths to maintacts and to deenergize said means upon leaving eachcontact, and means for energizing said controlling means when saidmember is in engagement with any one of said contacts to cause the motorto operate in stages, said contacts being of varying lengths to vary therange of operation of the motor during successive stages.

7. In a controller for electric motors, in combination,electroresponsive means for controlling the motor circuit, said meanshaving parallel energizing circuits and means movable in unison with themotor to alternately opensaid parallel circuits to deenergize saidcontrolling means, thereby necessitating operation of the motor instages.

8. In a controller for electric motors, in combination,electroresponsive means for controlling the motor circuit, said meanshaving parallel energizing circuits and a switch common to said circuitsand adapted to be automatically operated in unison with the motor toalternately open said parallel circuits to deener'gize said means tostop the motor, thereby necessitating operation of the motor by stages.n

9. In a. controller for electric motors, in combination,electroresponsive means for controlling the motor circuit, said meanshaving parallel energizing circuits and a switch common to said circuitsand adapted to be automatically operated in unison with the motor toalternately open said parallel circuits to deenerg'ize said means tostop the motor, thereby necessitating operation of the motor by stages,said switch being provided with contacts of varying sizes to necessitatethe same being moved different predetermined distances prior to stoppingthe motor.

10. In a controller for electric motors, in combination,electroresponsive means for controlling the motor circuit, said meanshaving parallel control circuits, a series of contacts, said controlcircuits including alternate contacts of said series, and a movablecontact member common to said control circuits and arranged to be movedin unison with the motor to successively engage and disengage saidcontacts to alternately open said control circuits, therebynecessitating closure of said control circuits alternately to cause themotor to operate in stages.

11. In a controller for electric motors, in combination,electroresponsive means for controlling the motor circuit, said meanshaving parallel control circuits, a series of contacts, said controlcircuits including alternate contacts of said series, and a movablecontact member common to said control circuits and arranged to be movedin unison with the motor to successively e'ngage and disengage saidcontacts to alternately open said control circuits, therebynecessitating closure of said control circuits alternately to cause themotor to operate in stages, said contacts being of difierent sizes tomaintain said means energized for different predetermined periods tovary the range of operation of the motor during successive periods.

'12. In an electric switch, in combination, a movable contact member andcontacts cooperating therewith to alternately connect said member in oneof two parallel circuits as the same is moved in a single direction,said member, upon leaving each of said contacts, being arranged to openone of the parallel circuits.

13. In an electric switch, in combination, a series of contacts,alternate contacts of said series being electrically connected in setsand said sets of contacts being connected in different parallelcircuits, and a movable contact, member common to the parallel circuitsand arranged to be moved to successively engage and disengage saidcontacts.

14. In an electric switch, in combination, a series of circumferentiallyarranged contacts, alternate contacts of said series being electricallyconnected in sets, said sets of contacts being connected in parallelcircuits. and a switch membervcommon to said parallel circuits andadapted to be moved to successively engage and disengage said contacts.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two witnesses. I I

" FLOYD T. TAYLOR.

Witnesses LAURA E. SMITH, 1 M. GoLns'mIN.

